Vertical feed butter dispenser



Nov. 4, 1952 R. R. PERKINS 2,616,173

' VERTICAL FEEDBUTTER DISPENSER Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 R. R. PERKINS 2,616,173

VERTICAL FEED BUTTER DISPENSER Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i E! i Z? Z 7 m h l w v INVENTOR 7- 7-2 RF.fsr}z'725 ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 R. R. PERKINS 2,616,173

VERTICAL FEED BUTTER DISPENSER Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RRPer/r i715 BY z A ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 R. R. PERKINS VERTICAL FEED BUTTER DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4am I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE 7 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for dispensin slabs or patties of butler,

An object of this invention is t provide a dispensing machine which includes a refrigerated housing adapted to keep butter solid, and electrically operated means for cutting slabs or patties of butter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotatable holder for sticks of butter, a stationary cutter, and an electric operator for progressively rotating the holder, g

A further object of this invention is to provide in a dispenser of this kind, an improved holder for the sticks of, butter and aspider follower for urging the sticks downwardly. r.

A further object of this invention :is to provide an improved cutter for cutting slabs or patties from the butter sticks.

.A further object of this .inventionis to provide a butter dispensing machine which is of simple construction which can .be mounted-on a counter or other convenient location.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combina-'- tion and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a detailed front elevationof a butter dispensing device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention; v Figure 2 is an end elevation partly of the. evi

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line .33 oi Figure 2; 1

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectionsimilar to Figure 4 with the butter carrier removed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view talsen on the line 66 of Figure .5; H

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the spiral cutter; I

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional in section view taken on the line 88 .of Figurefi;

Figure 9 is the bottom plan view of thecluitter carrier; 1

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the securing of the receptacle in the refrigerated housing;

Figure '11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line Il-H of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit embodied in this invention;

Figure 13 is .a fragmentary section View taken on the line 13-43 of Figure 11.

.2 Referring to the drawings, the numeral I'5 designates generally a housing, and the numeral l6 designates a lower housing secured to the housing [5 and enclosing a refrigeratinguni't H. The

refrigerating unit I1 is of conventional construction being an electrically operated cooling unit which has cooling coils I8 extending from the lower housing [6 upwardly into the interior of the upper housing :5. The housing 15 includes an inner cylindrical member 19 which is formed with an enlarged cylindrical upper portion 20 and defining a shoulder 2!.

A receptacle generally designated as 22 is adapted to be removably mounted in the Well or cylindrical members i9 and 2B and includes a flared rim 23 having one or more locking pins 24 as shown in Figure 10 which are engageablein openings 25 formed in the shoulder 2!. The pins 24 provide a, means whereby the receptacle 22 will be held against rotation in the well I9. The well 19 includes .a bottom wall 26 which is disposed above a shelf 21.

The bottom wall 28 of the receptacle 22 is formed with a spirally disposed cutting member 29 which is struck from the bottom .28 and forms an opening 36 through which the cut butter slices are adapted to pass.

.The bottom wall 26 of the well .19 is formed with an opening 3! adjacent the cutter 29 so that the butter slices will drop downwardly onto a receptacle or receiver which is positioned .on the shelf or support 27. x I

A butter holder or carrier 32 is rotatably disposed in the receptacle 22 and includes a cylinrdica'l inner wall 33 and a plurality of inwardly tapering lugs 34 which form spaces 35 between each pair of lugs within which a stick 36 of ,butter is adapted to loosely engage. A bottom plate 31 is secured to the cylindrical wal1 33 and has projecting centrally and downwardly therefrom a shaft 38 formed with a polygonal stud 39 at its lower end. The cylindrical wall 33 is provided with vertically disposed slots 40 communicating the interior of the cylindrical member 33 with each space or chamber 35.

.A follower generally designated as 4| is slida'bly mounted within the holder 3.2 and includes a plurality of weights 42 which are loosely engageablevin the spaces 35 and are adapted to bear against the upper ends of the butter sticks 36. The several wei hts are connected together by radially disposed arms 43 which project ,from a central hub 44. The arms 43 loosely engage through the slots '40 of the cylindrical member 33.

In order to provide a means whereby the carrier or holder 32 maybe progressively rotated so that the lower end of each butter stick 36 will be brought into contact with the cutting blade 29, I have provided a ratchet lever 45 which is rotatable about the polygonal end 39 of the shaft 38. The ratchet lever 45 includes a lever arm 46 having secured thereto an annular housing 41, and a ratchet or toothed wheel 48 is fixed to the stud 39 and engages within the housing 41. A spring pressed pawl 49 having a spring 49a, is carried by the housing 41 and engages the ratchet wheel 48 so as to provide for one way rotation of shaft 38. The ratchet lever 45 is adapted to be progressively rocked horizontally by means of a solenoid disposed within the lower'housing" I 6. The core 52 of the solenoid 5| is connected to the. ratchet lever 45 by meansof a connectin rod 53 extending loosely through an opening 54 formed in the end wall 55 of the lower housin IS. The solenoid 5| is'connected to a source of electric current supply by means of conductors 56 and 51, and a spring pressed switch 58 is interposed 'n conductor 57. T I

Switch 58 is normally biased to a circuit breaking position and is disposed on the shelf 2'|so that when a, receptacle or receiver is disposed below the discharge opening 3|, switch 58 will be closed,- thereby energizing solenoid 5| and effecting the partial rotation of holder or carrier 32. a

In the useand operation of this device the butter sticks 25 are inserted in the spaces or cham- Y bers 35 of the carrier or holder 32 after which I the follower 4| is placed on top of the butter sticks as shown in Figure 3. When a receptacle is placed on top of the switch 58 solenoid 5| will be energized, thereby rotating holder or carrier 32'for one segment. Rotation of holder or carrier 32 will bring thelowermost stick on the spiral cutter. into engagement with the cutting .blade so that a butter slice will be cut from the stick 35, and this slice will be discharged through the opening 3| .in the bottom wall 36. If'desired, the switch 58 may be closed by pressing a ,fingerthereagainst and supportinglthe receptafining a shoulder, there being a plurality-of Hcle below the delivery opening 32. A single butter slice will be delivered each time the solenoid 5| is energized. The cooling unit I! is a relatively small cooling unit wh ch is designed for the purpose of keeping the butter solid when disposed in the upper cooling housing |5 The. cool- 50 'ingunitllis conventional. v r

whatiscla med s a a M 1, A butterdispenser comprisingfa refrigerated housinghaving a well with a delivery opening in the bottom of the well, a cylindrical receptacle disposed in said well and including a bottom formed with a spiral guide terminating in a cutter, a cylindrical butter stick carrier rotatably disposed in said receptacle, said carr er having circumferentlally spaced apart slots within which the buttersticks are loosely engageablaa follower in said carrier having weight means in said slots for gravitatingly urging the butter sticks downwardly, and electrically operated means op- ,erably connected to said carrier for progressively-- rotating said carrier whereby aslice of butter will be cut from each stick for delivery through saidopening.

2. A butter slice dispenser comprising a refrigerated housing having a well with a delivery 5 opening in the bottom of the well, a receptacle in said well, means holding said receptacle againstrotation in said well, said receptacleineluding a, bottom wallformed with a spiralouter portion terminating at the portionfithereof 4 in a cutter disposed at one end of said delivery opening, a butter stick carrier rotatable in said receptacle, a stud projecting from one end of said carrier, a ratchet lever carried by said stud, and

5 solenoid means connected to said lever for progressively rotating said carrier and thereby moving the butter sticks on said carrier against said cutter for cutting a slice from each stick.

' "'3. A butter slice dispenser comprising a refrigerated housing having a well with a, delivery opening in the bottom of the well, a receptacle in said well, means holding said receptacle against rotation in.sai .d.well, said receptacle including a bottom wall formed with a spiral outer portion '15; terminating at the high portion thereof in a cutter disposedat one end of said delivery opening,

a butter stickcari'ier rotatable in said receptacle,

a stud-projecting from one end of said carrier,

a ratchet lever carried-by said stud, a horizontally disposed shelf disposed belowsaid. delivery-opening, solenoid means connected to said lever for, progressively rotating said carrier, and a switch connected to said solenoid.

erAbutter slice dispenser comprising a re- =frigeratedhousing having a well with a delivery opening in the bottom of the well, receptacle in ;said Well, ,means holding said receptacle against rotation in said well, said receptacle includin labottom wall formed with a spiral outer 3o portio'n'terminating at the high portion thereof in acutter disposed at one end of said delivery ,opening, a butter stick carrie rotatable in said receptacle, a stud projecting from one end of said carrier, a ratchet lever carried by said stud,

a horizontally disposed shelf disposed below said delivery opening, solenoid means connected to said lever for progressively rotating said carrier, anda switch connectedto said solenoid, said switchbeing disposed, onsaid shelf in a position to'b e closed by a receiver positioned on said shelf.

'5. In a butter dispenser, a casing for enclosing a refrigerating unit, a housing mounted on the top of said casing and including acylinder provided with an enlarged upper portion despaced openings arrangedin said shoulder, a receptacle arranged in said cylinder and including a flared rim, locking pins extending from said ri ninto said openings, horkontally dsposed-spaced parallel shelves extendin outward- I lyfrom said casing, said, receptacle includin a bottom wallf'a spiral cutting member extendin QQWiPl'QWlWBWdM o tq W l re being openings in the bottom of said cylinder and re- 5 c eptacle for the egress theret' rough of butter "slices, a oarrienrotatably arranged in said receptacle and provided with spaces for receiving a stick of butter therein, there being a plurality of spaced slots arranged in said carrier, a fol- 60 lower slidably mounted in sat'd carrier and including a hub, arms extending radially outwardlyfrom said hub and projecting through said S 1 ots weights secured to the outer ends of said arms for engaging the, tops of the butter sticks and rneans o'perably connected to said carrier for progressively rotating said'carrier.

. .64 a butte md spenser, casing for enc osinga refrigerating unit, a housing mounted on the top' oi said casing and including a cylinder 7 provided. With ancenlarged up er portion defininga shoulder, therebeing a plurality of .spaced openings arranged in said shoulder, a

p acl arranged in said cylinder and includng diaredirimlooking pins extending from said rim into saidopenings, horizontallydisposed spaced parallel shelves extending outwardly from said casing, said receptacle including a bottom wall, a spiral cutting member extending upwardly from said bottom wall, there being openings in the bottom of said cylinder and receptacle for the egress therethrough of butter slices, a carrier rotatably arranged in said receptacle and provided with spaces for receiving a stick of butter therein, there being a plurality of spaced slots arranged in said carrier, a follower slidably mounted in said carrier and including a hub, arms extending radially outwardly from saidhub and projecting through said slots, weights secured to the outer ends of said arms for engaging the tops of the butter sticks and means for progressively rotating said carrier, said means comprising a shaft extending downwardly from said carrier, a ratchet lever rotatable about said shaft and including a lever am, an annular housing secured to said lever arm, a toothed wheel arranged in said annular housing, a spring pressed pawl carried by said annular housing for engaging the toothed wheel, a solenoid connected to a source of electrical energy for rocking said ratchet lever, and a spring pressed switch mounted on one of said shelves and connected to said solenoid.

7. In a butter dispenser, a casing for enclosing a refrigerating unit, a housing mounted on the top of said casing and including a cylinder provided with an enlarged upper portion defining a shoulder, there being a plurality of spaced openings arranged in said shoulder, a receptacle arranged in said cylinder and including a flared rim, locking pins extending from said rim into said openings, horizontally disposed spaced parallel shelves extending outwardly from said casing, said cylinder including a bottom wall, a carrier rotatably arranged in said receptacle and provided with spaces for receiving a' stick of butter therein, there being a plurality of spaced slots arranged in said carrier, a follower slidably mounted in said carrier including a hub, arms extending radially outwardly from said hub and projecting through said slots, weights secured to the outer ends of said arms for engaging the tops of the butter sticks, and means operably connected to said carrier for progressively rotating said carrier.

RONALD R. PERKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Tischler Mar. 13, 1951 

